Four Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers were killed and as many others injured in an explosion in central Mali on Wednesday.
An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded at Douentza in the West African nation around 2:30pm local time, bdnews24 reported citing an ISPR press release.
According to the military’s press wing ISPR, all eight victims are members of the Bangladesh Army.
The deceased were identified as Warrant Officer Abul Kalam of Pirojpur, Lance Corporal Akther of Mymensingh, Soldier Raihan of Pabna and Soldier (chef) Jamal of Chapainawabganj districts, according to a UNB report.
The injured are Corporal Russell of Naogaon, Sainik Akram of Rajbari, Soldier Newton of Jessore, Soldier Rashed of Kurigram districts.
The injured were given necessary treatment, the release said adding, "Other Bangladeshi peacekeepers employed in Mali are safe."
Six Malian soldiers were killed in a similar incident in the same area a day earlier, the mission (MINUSMA) said in a statement, according to a Reuters report.
Around 11,000 peacekeepers from 50 countries, including Bangladesh, are working in Mali.
On Sept 24 last year, three Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed in an attack by terrorists on their way back to the camp after a successful encounter with the militants.
The United Nations deployed peacekeepers in Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa, in 2013 after the Malian and French forces launched an operation in response to territorial gains by Islamist rebels.